On 16 February the Bishop of Bedford and the Archdeacon met with the
Parochial Church Council and other members of the church congregation to discuss
the finding of ‘a concrete way forward’ for future ministry in Odell. The Bishop
explained that, with fewer people coming forward for ordination, it was
necessary to spread the available number of full-time paid clergy more thinly
than in the past. Therefore many parishes were linking up, and a ‘deployment
factor’ based on the congregation numbers/inhabitants was used as a guideline. A
rating of 120 was the usual figure for full-time paid clergy, and against this
Odell was rated at 27.

The essential need was to maintain a proper ministry, and some planning had
taken place in the Sharnbrook Deanery to link Odell to other parishes with a
paid minister to ensure full-time cover if a part-time unpaid minister was
resident in the rectory looking after Odell’s needs, in particular for Sunday
services.

The meeting felt strongly that there was no reason why the ‘house for duty’
situation, under which Rev David Streater had been appointed unpaid
priest-in-charge of Odell as an independent parish, could not continue. Although
the Bishop was concerned that it might be difficult to find anyone willing to
take such a post in today’s climate, he agreed that we should advertise and
pursue other contacts to try and find the right person to do this.

The next step is for the PCC to prepare a profile (or brochure) giving
details of the parish and its hopes and aspirations to ‘sell’ the position to
potential applicants. This is now in hand, and we hope that the post will be
advertised shortly after Easter.

Please pray for those charged with preparing the profile and for the right
person to come forward to lead the parish over the coming years.

Tim Dodwell

The Prayer Chain

The Prayer Chain is there if you need prayer for yourself, for others or for
members of your family. Please don’t ask for prayer outside your own family
without people’s permission. To have a number of people pray just telephone
Dennis (822992).

Church Opening

Many of you will know that because of the problems of vandalism and theft
from Churches generally, the Parish Church is kept locked. Unless there is a
specific reason for opening it earlier, it will be opened for Sunday and
occasional services half an hour before the Service is due to start.

News from St. Albans Diocese

Pilgrims set to shine

The theme of this year's Easter Monday Pilgrimage at St Albans Cathedral on
April 12th will be 'Shine On!' to celebrate the event's diamond
anniversary. Pilgrims are invited to "walk, run, drive or fly" to St Albans to
mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be activities on the Abbey
Orchard from 1pm and an act of worship in the Cathedral at 2.30pm. For more
information look at www.stalbanspilgrimage2004.com or contact Canon Stephen Lake
on 01727 890201 or subdean@stalbanscathedral.org.uk

Parish offers to host post office

Plans to close the post office in Queens Park, Bedford, prompted the parish
priest to offer the church as a new location. The Revd Jay MacLeod told local
councillors: "Parish churches exist to serve God by serving the communities in
which they are set. If All Saints’ Church could usefully house a post office, I
am certain that our congregation and church council would want to give such a
proposal serious consideration."

Marriage guide on the web...

Getting married? Or know someone who is? There's a new guide to getting
married in the Church of England available on the diocesan website:

www.stalbans.anglican.org There is information on Christianity and marriage,
practicalities and the law, when and where ceremonies may take place and a
wedding planner checklist. The section was written by the Revd Giles Legood,
co-author of 'The Church Wedding Handbook,' published by SPCK.

...and a new faith section

BBC Three Counties Radio has launched a new Faith section on its website at
www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/faith/index.shtml They are looking for people to
give them information on 'My Kind of Heaven.' Ian Pearce, who presents the
weekly religious programme 'Melting Pot' every Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm, has
started the ball rolling with one of his own.

March SeeRound

'Let's get to know each other this Lent' is the encouragement from the Bishop
of Bedford in the March edition of the diocesan magazine. There's also a chance
to win a new book exploring the spiritual message in the movies, a feature on
the church-based Ascend project working on an 'invisible' estate near Watford,
lots of courses, events and parish news, and more information about many of the
eRound items.

Peter Crumpler

Communications Officer Diocese of St. Albans.

PCC AGM Change of Date

The PCC AGM will now take place on Tuesday 20th April, not
Wednesday 21st, in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.

All Saints Church Appeal Fund

Although this seems to be the low season for attracting further contributions
after last month’s bumper rise in the ‘thermometer’, plans are now moving ahead
for fund-raising events in the late spring and summer.

The first of these will be a concert of piano duets by ‘Dixon & Dyson’ in the
Church on Sunday 16 May. (See later item in magazine).

This will be followed

bya sponsored walk on Sunday 4 July, along with other planned
events for the summer - details to follow in the next few months. Our grateful
thanks to those responsible for organising these.

Book the dates in your diaries now!

All Saints Church Appeal Fund

May event – keep this date free!

Piano Duets and Poetry Readings

May 16th 6.30pm

All Saints’ Church Odell

More details to follow next month

AND NOW we have a new initiative. Have YOU got any unwanted jewellery hidden
away, maybe a broken gold earring, or the other half of the pair lost long ago?
Or maybe a broken gold chain or an odd cuff-link, a locket with a broken hinge
not worth repairing, a ring with stones missing or bent and damaged which you
will never wear again. All these may seem worthless individually, but put them
together and they could be worth a reasonable sum. We have had an offer from a
company specialising in the recycling of precious metals to turn such items into
cash. If YOU can help, items can be left with Tom and Ann Hudson at Abigail
House.

Dr. Billy Graham, the American evangelist, held his first evangelistic
campaign in Britain fifty years ago. It became known as the Greater London
Crusade and took place at the Harringay Arena during March, April and May 1954.

Lord Luke of Pavenham (the present Lord Luke’s father) was a staunch
supporter of the Crusade and its leader from the beginning. As a vice-president
of The Bible Society he presided at an informal reception at Bible House and, on
behalf of the committee, presented Dr Graham with a Bible to commemorate his
visit. The photograph shows this presentation taking place.

Dr and Mrs Graham spent a weekend in Odell as the guests of Lord and Lady
Luke who, at the end of the Crusade, gave a farewell dinner

for the Grahams and the rest of the team at the Dorchester Hotel. On that
occasion Dr Graham took the opportunity to speak to the assembled company
reminding them of the individual’s and the nation’s need of God. He bore
testimony to the love of Christ who had changed his own life eighteen years
before and had recently changed the lives of thousands at Harringay, some of
whom were present at the dinner that evening.

The climax of the Crusade came on May 22nd when one hundred and
twenty thousand at Wembley Stadium and sixty five thousand at the White City
Stadium gathered from all parts of Britain. These gatherings were reported as
the largest evangelistic meetings ever held in Britain. Dr Graham spoke first at
the White City and then, three hours later, to the immense gathering at Wembley
where the authorities had waived the limit of one hundred thousand which they
allowed for an F.A. Cup Final and permitted late-comers to gather on the actual
turf in front of the platform. Among the distinguished guests accommodated in
the Royal Box were Lord and Lady Luke.

Of course, this is all part of history now but those who had
the privilege of being there, and especially those who found Christ during the
momentous months of 1954, will be eternally grateful to God for the ministry of
his servant Billy Graham.

Now in his mid-eighties, Dr Graham is still active in ministry and has
recently celebrated sixty years of marriage with his wife, Ruth.

A fuller account of Dr Graham’s ministry can be read in his authorised
biography, "The Billy Graham Story", by John Pollock, published by Zondervan at
£7.99.

Douglas Smith

Graham Cansdale to preach in Odell.

Reverend Graham Cansdale, an old friend to many in Odell, is to return to All
Saints’ to preach on Sunday 14th March. If you remember Graham and
would like to see him and hear him preach again please come and join us on the
14th and help us give him a warm welcome.

Our Giving in March is to tear fund

Please give generously to this charity dedicated to helping struggling people
in third-world countries.

A Date
for your Diary – Odell Village Fete 2004

The date for this year’s village fete is Saturday 12th June. It
will be held in the field in Horsefair Lane as in previous years. Help is
desperately needed both on the committee and on the day. Please ring Jill
Cheadle (720261) if you are interested.

Aid for Romania

Great
News about Alexandru. Some of you will have heard the good news about young
Alexandru. He's the eight year old-Romanian boy who is suffering from a rare
syndrome following an allergic reaction to some medication. He and his father,
Vasile, have just been over here for a week to see Mr Daya, the eye specialist
in East Grinstead. The hope now is that it won't be necessary to carry out long
and complicated surgical procedures culminating in a corneal transplant, and Mr
Daya is optimistic his condition can be treated with steroids to halt
deterioration with hopefully improved sight.

They will need to come to England periodically for checks, and the

medication is not cheap, so it's a good thing we've had an excellent response
to our recent appeal. Alex had a really great time with some of the young people
from Odell, plus their suitcases were bulging with gifts of clothes and some
great toys. They also enjoyed visiting Odell Church and we fitted in a visit to
Windsor Castle and Woburn as well. Alex can't wait for his next visit in April!

Over the same weekend that Alex and his Dad will be here, there's a group of
five, mostly from Bromham Baptist Church, going out to Buzau to sort out young
Mihaela. We've spent about £3,000 on acquiring and sending out an electric
wheelchair, an electric hoist, a keyboard, a donated wheelchair for another
needy youngster, plus a lot of therapy gear. The team includes an occupational
therapist, a wheelchair specialist and a builder who plans to construct a ramp
at Mihaela's house while the specialists are educating Mihaela and her Mum to
maximise the benefits of the equipment. We have been very fortunate to have a
lot of things donated to us, or supplied at reduced price, and special thanks
are due to the Health Trusts for giving members of our team leave, and to
Richard Jeeves (one of the founders of Aid for Romania) for helping us with the
loan of a vehicle to take everything to the nearest convenient collection depot
in Kent.

The next fund-raising events are THE POSH SUPPER, and THE PIT RUN On Saturday
April 24th . Sponsors and Runners/Walkers needed

Please do continue to support us.

Liz Dodwell (720640)

Womens World Day of Prayer

In Faith, Women Shape the Future

Interdenominational Service

Harrold Chapel, 10am, Friday March 5th

Speaker: Wendy Hughes

Men also welcome Refreshments

This is a very special annual service, which members of our church like to
support. It is friendly and informal, whilst following the format used around
the world. This year the Christian women of Panama have prepared the service.
Many of us know the speaker, Wendy, who lives in Carlton and has recently become
a Lay Reader. In the past some of our ladies have been involved as readers,
actors etc, so, if you would like to take part this year, please contact Liz
Dodwell (720640).

POSH SUPPER

New Venue – The Barn at Hobbs Green Farm

(with thanks to Marion and Andrew Ingrey-Senn)

Saturday March 6th at 7.30pm

Tickets minimum price £15

Hurry and book now! (720640)

All donations and offers of help with preparations, drink, starters and
puddings would be appreciated, so that expenses can be kept to a minimum.

This should be a very enjoyable evening, especially in this new setting. All
profits will go to help the special fund for Alexandru and Mihaela so please try
to come, or support us in some way.

Tim and Liz Dodwell

Children’s Society Collection Boxes

Catherine would be grateful if all Children’s Society collection boxes could
be returned to her as soon as possible, and by the end of March at the latest.

Hidden titles

Here are the answers to last month’s puzzle:

"Can you find sixteen books of the Bible?"

I once made a remark about hidden books of the Bible (merely by fluke).
It kept some people looking so hard for the facts, and to others
it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name
of the books was not capitalised. But now the truth finally struck home
to the numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it
to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be
some really difficult ones to spot. Others may require judges to help
them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of
them. There will be lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she
brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete.
Relax now, for there really are sixteen books of the Bible hidden in this
paragraph. One minister found fifteen books in twenty minutes, but then took
three weeks to find the sixteenth one.

Phil Lewis

Looking to Jesus

God Records and Rewards

"You shall be repaid at the Resurrection…" Luke 14:14 NKJ

When Jesus was invited to the home of a prominent religious leader, He
offered this unsolicited advice. `When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask
your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor your rich neighbours, lest they
also invite you back, and you be repaid... When you give a feast, invite the
poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they
cannot repay you: for you shall be repaid at the resurrection‘. (Luke 14:12-14
NKJ)

Notice the words, `...you shall be repaid at the resurrection...' God will
repay you for some things after you're dead. This contradicts what many of us
believe - that God rewards us only on earth. No, these words show that when you
do a worthy deed for someone who cannot repay you: a) you will be repaid and b)
much of your reward will come in the next life.

If you fail to understand this, you'll find yourself saying: `I serve God
faithfully, so why am I struggling? Doesn't God notice or care?' Friend, God
notices and God cares! But He doesn't promise that work for Him now will always
result in a gain from Him now. Many of the rewards God has for us are so great
it'll take eternity to appreciate and enjoy them!

Jesus said, `whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My
name... will by no means lose his reward' (Mark 9:41 NKJ). No deed for God will
be overlooked or go unrewarded - not even a cup of cold water or a prayer in the
middle of the night.

Taken from ‘Word for Today’ with kind permission of United Christian
Broadcasters, P.O. Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8YY.

Amongst Ourselves

We are sorry to learn of the death of Crewe Alston. Crewe lived at The
Castle for many years, where he and his sister Temperance spent such happy times
as children. Temperance, now living in Australia, is in regular receipt of our
magazine. We send our love and prayers to Crewe’s son John and wife Valerie and
the rest of the family.

We are so sorry to hear of the death of dear Anne Payne, who in quiet
trust and faith went to be with The Lord on the 24th January. Anne
was a very special friend to many people here in Odell and was a tremendous
spiritual strength in times of need. We send our special love and prayers to
David, Alison and Richard. A private cremation was held at Swindon and a service
of Praise and Thanksgiving for Anne's life was held at South Cerney on 28th
February. We give thanks for her love and friendship. Anne Turner

Please send all entries for the April 2004 magazine to Tricia
Hudson (patriciahudson@kbnet.co.uk), Anne Turner or Catherine Corkery by March
12th 2004 at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team
exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted.
Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and
are not the responsibility of the editorial team.